Globally, over 300 million people of all ages suffer from serious fungal infections every year resulting in over 1.6 million deaths. Like malaria with 438,000 deaths and tuberculosis with 1,800,000 deaths annually (2015), many deaths from fungal infection are avoidable. Most serious fungal infections are ‘hidden’, occurring as a consequence of other health problems such as asthma, AIDS, cancer, organ transplant and corticosteroid therapies. All require specialized testing for diagnosis, and delays or missed diagnosis often lead to death, serious chronic illness or blindness. The antifungal medicines itraconazole, voriconazole are essential to reduce deaths and illness, and natamycin to reduce blindness, and they are very inexpensive in most countries.

Professor David Denning from GAFFI and The University of Manchester, stated: “Earlier this year GAFFI highlighted how many countries don’t have even the older antifungals, despite them being available for over 25 years in the West, and endorsement by the WHO of their essentiality is a key step in reducing mortality from fungal diseases.”

The proposed indications for voriconazole are invasive and chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, with intravenous therapy preferred initially in invasive disease.

The only indication for topical natamycin 5% in the eye is fungal (mycotic) keratitis and 3 randomised studies have shown it to be more efficacious than other topical medicines, given alone.

Current antifungals on the EML include only griseofulvin, fluconazole, amphotericin B and flucytosine (listed 2013), and some topical antifungals for skin. There is no EML listing for any preparation active for fungal keratitis. These applications are a key component of GAFFI’s effort to achieve it ’95-96 by 2025’ goal with respect to universal antifungal access.

All applications for EML inclusion go out to public consultation, and the WHO will enable this on its website in early 2017. Decisions are made in April 2017.

For more information please contact Professor David Denning on +44 161 291 5811 or 5818 or Susan Osborne, Director of Communications, The Goodwork Organisation on 07836 229208.

Essential antifungal medicines was last modified: July 25th, 2017 by thisisgoodwork